Assessment of Urban Services Deprivation in Punjab, Pakistan: A District-Level Spatial Comparative Analysis

This paper examines the level of urban service provision and the state of urban services deprivation across the districts of Pakistani Punjab. To assess deprivation in a multidimensional manner, the study formulates a Urban Services Deprivation Index (USDI) covering three dimensions of urban services: physical infrastructure, social services, and economic services. The USDI is constructed for all Punjab districts and mapped spatially to reveal the geographic concentration of urban services deprivation. Comparative analysis identifies districts with the most critical service gaps and provides an evidence-based basis for targeting urban infrastructure investment and service delivery reform.